Shoe tree



- y 1945- CHARLES-EDOUARD GARNEAU 2,401,064

SHOE TREE Filed May 17, 1945 iii 602 0 [Za yIwm/d 50/120011 M E 759/ Patented May-28, 1946 SHOE TREE Charles-Edouard Garncau, Beauport, Quebec,

Canada Application May 17, 1945, SerialNo. 594,205

Claims.

The present invention pertains to a novel shoe tree or form, and the principal object is to provide such a device that exerts only a heightwise pressure, rather than a transverse or lengthwise pressure, in the shoe.

Shoe trees most commonly in use are of the type that exert a pressure within the shoe from heel to toe. As a result, the shoe is liable to become damaged as by elongation, breaking of the sole, tearing of the lining, distortion of the counter, and in other ways. As indicated, the device of this invention eliminates the lengthwise pressure, with the result that damage from the aforementioned causes is avoided.

This object is accomplished generally by a shoe tree that exerts vertical pressure in the vamp of the shoe and does not even reach into the heel. The device comprises essentially a wire formed as a loop that crosses the inner sole substantially at the arch and has free ends adapted to enter the toe of the shoe. At each of these ends the wire is coiled in a vertical plane to form a spring and is thence extended rearwardly as a strand following the under surface of the top of the vamp. Each such strand carries a convex plate or cheek adapted to fit into one side of the vamp and held upwardlyagainst that side by the vertical coil spring.

In addition, the portion of the loop that crosses the arch is formed with a coil in its own plane. This coil rests upon the arch andexerts a lateral pressure to bring the convex plates outwardly against the inner sides of the vamp. For better ventilation the plates are perforated.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device;

Figure 2 is a side elevation, and

Figure 3 is a detail in perspective.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

In Figure 1 is shown a length of wire shaped to form a wide loop I in a given plane with a coil 2 at the midpoint of the loop and in the same plane. Opposite the coil 2, the loop has free ends spaced at 3, and at each end the Wire is coiled, preferably twice, at 4 to form springs of substantial strength. These springs lie in parallel planes substantially perpendicular to that of the loop I. In practice, the latter loop is substantially horizontal, to rest upon th sole of a shoe, and the planes of the convolutions 4 are vertical. the convolutions 4 the wire is extended as two From parallel strands 5 overlying the plane of the loop l on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the loop and diverging somewhat from the plane of the loop in receding from the springs 4, as

shown in Figure 1. The free extremities of the strands 5 are coiled outwardly at 6 to form finger pieces.

A curved sheet of plastic metal plate or cheek 1 extends from each strand 5 to the nearer ad- .iacent side of the loop I. The plates may be attached in any suitable manner, but preferably each strand 5 is threaded through two slots 8 in the plate. A lug 9 may be formed on each strand on the outer side of one of the slots 8 to prevent slipping, as shown in Figure 3.

The plates 1 are of a size to fit into the vent of a shoe, and the coil 2 is positioned to rest substantially on the arch of the shoe. It is to be noted that there is no pressure from heel to toe. The conventional trees that are held firmly in the shoe by such pressure have been known to stretch the shoe lengthwise, break the inner sole, tear the lining and break the counter. It is evident that no such damage can occur with the device herein disclose-d.

For ventilating the shoe the plates 1 are perforated at In. The center space between the ends also facilitates ventilation of the shoe receiving the invention. I

Instead, the form of the shoe is maintained by the upward pressure induced by the springs 4 and the lighter lateral pressure created by the coil 2. In order to reduce the width of the device for insertion in or removal from the shoe, the plates 1 are drawn together by inward pressure on the finger rings 6.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alteration in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A shoe tree comprising a wire bent to form a loop open at one end, said wire being coiled at both sides of said open end and in planes substantially perpendicular to that of the loop, said wire being extended from the coiled portion in substantially parallel strands diverging from the plane of said loop, and an outwardly convex plate carried by each strand and extending to the nearer side of said loop, said wire having a coil opposite said open end and in the plane of said loop.

2. A shoe tree comprising a wire bent to form a loop open at one end, said wire being coiled at both sides of said open end and in planes substantially perpendicular to that of the loop, said wire being extended from the coiled portions in substantially parallel strand-s diverging from the plane of said loop, and an outwardly convex plate carried by each strand and extending to the nearer side of said loop, the free end of said strands being coiled beyond said plates to form finger pieces.

3. A shoe tree comprising a wire bent to form a loop open at one end, said wire being coiled at both sides of said open end and in planes substantially perpendicular to that of the loop, said wire being extended from the coiled portions in substantially parallel strands diverging from the both side of said open end and in planes sub-- 7 stantially perpendicular to that of the loop, said strand is threaded, and a lug formed on each strand onthe outer side'of one of said slots.

5. A shoe tree comprising a wire bent to form a loop open at one end, said wire being coiled at both sides of said open end and in planes substantially perpendicular to that of the loop, said wire being extended from the coiled portions in substantially parallel strands diverging from the plane of said loop, and an outwardly convex plate.

carried by each strand and extending to the nearer side of said loop, the free ends of said strands being coiledbeyond said plates to form finger pieces, said wire having a coil opposite said open end and in the plane of said loop.

4. A shoe tree comprising a wire bent to form plane of said loop, and an outwardly convex plate carried by each strand and extending to the nearer side of said loop, each plate having a pair a loop open at one end, said wire being coiled at a 

